ROYAL BANK OF CANADA $56 - Toronto symbol RY

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA $56 (www.rbc.com) has completed the sale of its struggling U.S. retail-banking business, which consists of 424 branches in six southeastern states. That will free up cash that the bank can invest in its more profitable banking operations in Canada and the Caribbean. Royal also raised its quarterly dividend by 5.6%, to $0.57 a share from $0.54. The new annual rate of $2.28 yields 4.1%. Buy.

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